Genesee County History
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Formed in 1802
Genesee County was formed from Ontario County on March 30, 1802 and comprised all of Western New York. The present Genesee County is divided into thirteen towns with six incorporated villages and one city. A part of the Tonawanda Indian Reservation is also included and is located in the northwest corner of the county. With the exception of the City of Batavia, the county seat, is quite rural in nature.
Chipped-stone spear points and other evidence reveal that humans were present beginning 11,000 BC. Trails developed by the Senecas were later adopted by white settlers and remain in use as Routes 5, 33, 63 and 98. The Senecas continued to claim ownership of their tribal lands until, at the Treaty of Big Tree (1797); they relinquished control of most tribal lands in Genesee County. The exception was a sizeable area in the northwest quarter, set aside as a major part of the Tonawanda Indian Reservation, reduced to its present size in 1857.
Massachusetts, in accordance with the Hartford Convention of 1786, initiated efforts to sell the land that is Genesee County, eventually selling to Robert Morris. In 1792 Morris sold the western portion of his vast tract, including approximately the western two-thirds of Genesee County, to a group of Dutch bankers. Four years later the Holland Land Company proceeded to subdivide and inventory their purchase. Batavia, named in honor of the short-lived Dutch Republic and located at a strategic fork in the Buffalo Road, was selected as the company's regional headquarters.
A modest but varied African American community was established early in the settlement. In the mid 19th century, support for the Underground Railroad took root, especially in the county's eastern towns, where the "Covington Route" of the Underground Railroad ran from Covington (Wyoming County) through Pavilion and East Bethany to LeRoy; from LeRoy to Elba, and thence to the Niagara River and Canada.
Genesee County's economy has centered around agriculture following an initial period which produced marketable ash from burning forest trees. The production of potash and pearlash soon gave way to winter wheat as more lands were cleared and farmers took advantage of the expanding transportation infrastructure focused on Batavia. By 1855, wheat production in Western New York was in decline due to expanding production in the Midwest. Genesee County farmers turned their attention to dairy farming and corn production. Conversion of marshland in Elba into productive muckland took place from 1913 to 1915 and resulted in rich crops of lettuce, onions, carrots, potatoes, turnips, beets, celery and spinach.
The county acquired rail service in 1836 when the Tonawanda Railroad opened between Bergen and Rochester providing service to Batavia in the following year. In 1893 New York Central engine "999" broke the world's land speed record on a run from Batavia to Buffalo.
Improved transportation brought more manufacturing activity to the county's larger communities. By the 1890s Batavia was home to Massey Harris farm machinery, the Baker Gun Company, Wiard Plow works, and the E.N. Rowell box factory. LeRoy was the place of origin of Jell-O. The first bank opened in 1829 at Batavia.
County government began in 1803 with the completion of the first courthouse and the appointment of government officials. The first female legislator was elected in 1978 and the first woman chair in 2001. Barber B. Conable, Jr, the county’s most noted 20th century politician, was a U S Congressman 1965–1985, and then was appointed President of the World Bank, retiring in1991.